FLOYD BENNETT FIELD, N.Y. — Airmen of the New York Air National Guard's 103rd Rescue Squadron, a part of the 106th Rescue Wing, recently partnered with the New York Police Department's Emergency Services Unit for two days of simulated hostage rescue training at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn.
The 103rd Rescue Squadron is made up of pararescue Airmen, also known as PJs, and combat rescue officers. These specialists are trained to rescue personnel from challenging situations, often behind enemy lines, and provide critical emergency medical care.
It takes three years of training in skills ranging from high-altitude parachute jumping to scuba diving and survival training to qualify in pararescue.
Master Sgt. Corey Ketelsen, a 103rd Rescue Squadron team chief, said the joint exercises held Oct. 23-24 provided Airmen with a valuable opportunity to refine their expertise in a new environment.
"The entire point of the exercise was to give my guys a new location to practice their skills," Ketelsen said.
On Oct. 23, about 10 Airmen practiced rappelling from a helicopter onto a three-story building to simulate the rescue of wounded counter-snipers from a rooftop during a terrorist attack. Counter-snipers are teams trained to locate and neutralize enemy snipers.
The team of Airmen secured the simulated patients, ascended back to the roof and prepared the injured for airlift to Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base for continued medical care, Ketelsen said.
"The extended helicopter flight allowed us to simulate ongoing medical treatment during a longer transit, which is a crucial aspect of our real-world missions," Ketelsen said.
The following day, the 103rd and Emergency Services Unit members collaborated on a simulated hostage rescue raid. Airmen and officers honed their close-quarters combat skills to clear a two-story building of simulated terrorists and provide immediate medical aid to the hostages.
According to Ketelsen, the scenario was designed to mimic real-world situations in which the Emergency Services Unit might call upon the specialized abilities of the 103rd to augment its capabilities during complex operations.
During the simulated hostage rescue, both agencies worked in unison to secure the building and ensure the well-being of the hostages.
Ketelsen emphasized that the exercise gave the 103rd Rescue Squadron Airmen the chance to learn new skills from the New York police officers, while enhancing their ability to operate together.
The training expanded the medics' expertise and strengthened collaborative ties with the New York Police Department, showcasing the 103rd's versatility, Ketelsen said.
The 106th Rescue Wing, based at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, New York, operates and maintains the HC-130J Combat King II search and rescue aircraft, and the HH-60W Jolly Green II rescue helicopter. The 106th Rescue Wing is home to a special warfare squadron with pararescuemen and combat rescue officers, specializing in rescue and recovery, and deploys for domestic and overseas operations.